Lafourche levee project ready for construction

Published: Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at 7:11 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at 7:11 p.m.

The North Lafourche Conservation, Levee and Drainage District announced it is ready to proceed with a more than $1 million project to repair the 40 Arpent Canal.

The repairs will be done along a 2,000-foot section of the canal that runs from Valentine to Larose and will provide protection to residents and businesses in those areas, Levee District Executive Director Dwayne Bourgeois said

Phillip Gouaux, who represents the area on the Lafourche Parish Council, said the levee has been in “emergency status” for about three years and residents have been lucky a storm hasn’t threatened them so far this year.

“We would have flooded from Lockport to Larose,” he said. “It’s time. It’s time we do something.”

The levee has had a considerable amount of seepage and water has risen near the top during recent rainstorms, Bourgeois said.

The levee is a spoil bank that was created for the digging of the 40 Arpent Canal, Gouaux said.

Lockport has been using it as a protection levee, but it has failed in several spots.

“During hurricane season it’s the only protection we have,” Gouaux said.

The North Lafourche Levee District has implemented several interim repairs over the past few years but recognized it was time to do something more permanent, Bourgeois said.

The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority has agreed to put up $500,000 for the project while the levee district is paying $577,121. Apeck Construction in Anacoco is scheduled to begin work on the project Monday, and the repairs are expected to be completed in four months.

Bourgeois said he’s pleased that construction is set to begin and added the state aid is key to getting the project done quickly.

“As coastal land loss continues to threaten Lafourche Parish, each flood protection project that we can implement increases our ability to keep the water out of our homes and business, reduces our risk of flooding and allows us to continue to live, work and play in (the parish),” Bourgeois said.

The Valentine-to-Larose project is part of the larger Lockport-to-Larose Levee Project Area, Bourgeois said.

Staff Writer Jacob Batte can be reached at 448-7635 or jacob.batte@dailycomet.com.

<p>Lockport-area residents will soon have more flood protection.</p><p>The North Lafourche Conservation, Levee and Drainage District announced it is ready to proceed with a more than $1 million project to repair the 40 Arpent Canal.</p><p>The repairs will be done along a 2,000-foot section of the canal that runs from Valentine to Larose and will provide protection to residents and businesses in those areas, Levee District Executive Director Dwayne Bourgeois said </p><p>Phillip Gouaux, who represents the area on the Lafourche Parish Council, said the levee has been in “emergency status” for about three years and residents have been lucky a storm hasn't threatened them so far this year. </p><p>“We would have flooded from Lockport to Larose,” he said. “It's time. It's time we do something.”</p><p>The levee has had a considerable amount of seepage and water has risen near the top during recent rainstorms, Bourgeois said. </p><p>The levee is a spoil bank that was created for the digging of the 40 Arpent Canal, Gouaux said.</p><p>Lockport has been using it as a protection levee, but it has failed in several spots. </p><p>“During hurricane season it's the only protection we have,” Gouaux said.</p><p>The North Lafourche Levee District has implemented several interim repairs over the past few years but recognized it was time to do something more permanent, Bourgeois said. </p><p>The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority has agreed to put up $500,000 for the project while the levee district is paying $577,121. Apeck Construction in Anacoco is scheduled to begin work on the project Monday, and the repairs are expected to be completed in four months. </p><p>Bourgeois said he's pleased that construction is set to begin and added the state aid is key to getting the project done quickly.</p><p>“As coastal land loss continues to threaten Lafourche Parish, each flood protection project that we can implement increases our ability to keep the water out of our homes and business, reduces our risk of flooding and allows us to continue to live, work and play in (the parish),” Bourgeois said. </p><p>The Valentine-to-Larose project is part of the larger Lockport-to-Larose Levee Project Area, Bourgeois said. </p><p>Staff Writer Jacob Batte can be reached at 448-7635 or jacob.batte@dailycomet.com.</p>